English Program

English Pre-Major

A major in English provides an excellent background for a wide variety of careers. SCC's
English Pre-Major degree gets you started. Consult a counselor or academic adviser for recommended courses specific to the student's choice of
transfer institution.

The objective of all literature and
humanities classes is
to create an awareness and appreciation of the role of literature by examining and analyzing the historical, structural,
and artistic development of the works.

Certificate of Achievement in English Studies

Prepare for writing and reading in four-year colleges and universities

Read literature from many places and eras

Build confidence in your ability to write effectively

To earn a Certificate of Achievement in English studies, you must pass English 101, 102, and two additional
five-credit English 100- or 200-level courses. All courses must be taken at SCC, and you must earn a grade of
2.0 or better in each of these courses.

Once you have earned the necessary twenty credits, contact your English instructor and ask for an English
Certificate application. Fill it out and attach an unofficial transcript with your English courses
highlighted.

Return the form and transcript to your instructor or to Betsy Lawrence, Room 211E, Building 1 (Old Main).
Your certificate will be mailed to you.

Did you test into English 99 or 96? If so, SCC’s English Department offers ALP
(Accelerated Learning Program), accelerated courses designed to help you successfully complete English 99
or 96 and English 101 the same quarter. ALP’s goal is to help you complete your required English
writing requirement as quickly and successfully as possible. It is specifically intended to enable
students who placed into English 99 or 96 to move into college-level writing (English 101).

There are two ALP courses, one for students who need English 99 and another for students who tested into
English 96. ALP works this way: instead of taking English 99 or 96 one quarter and then English 101 the
following one, students enroll English 99 or 96 and 101 the same quarter. ALP students take a
regular English 101 class one hour and then attend a second writing or reading class (English 99 or 96)
the following hour with the same instructor. Students register for 10 credits of writing – both 99/96 and
101 – at the same time.

Some frequently asked questions are answered below, but if you have additional questions about the program
or want to know more about registering, please contact Angela Rasmussen at
angela.rasmussen@sccc.spokane.edu or Betsy
Lawrence at betsy.lawrence@scc.spokane.edu, or contact
an SCC counselor at (509) 533-8215.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can take ALP? (Click to open)

To meet the prerequisites for the 99/101 ALP, you must test into English 99 on your COMPASS test or
successfully pass English 97. Additionally, your COMPASS score should place you in college-level
reading rather than English 96. If you placed into English 96, you should complete that course
before taking ALP.

If you tested only into English 96 (and not 99), there is an ALP that allows you to take 96 and 101
the same quarter, similar to the other ALP course.

Students who need to take English 101 for their course of study or program should consider this
class, but should first confirm that they need English 101 for their specific course of study.

How does it work?

ALP requires that students take ten credits (two hours, daily) of writing. This is an intense
schedule, but those who are prepared to complete the work and commit to attending class do very
well.

ALP students attend a regular English 101 course the first hour of class and are expected to
complete all the work at 101-level. Immediately after English 101, the 10 ALP students meet for
English 99/96 with the same instructor, who answers questions about 101 assignments and discusses
the readings more in depth.

The second hour of class – the English 99/96 course – is specifically designed to help students
pass English 101. Since both classes are focused on helping students succeed in English 101, the
due dates, the assignments and materials are all coordinated by your instructor. Students have
found this focused approach to work very well in completing the 101 assignments.

How do I sign up?

In order to take these courses, your must contact an SCC counselor ((509) 533-8215), or
Angela Rasmussen or
Betsy Lawrence. We can provide you the
information that you need to register.

What are the current hours ALP is offered?

For Winter Quarter 2015, there are two options for ALP classes. Keep in mind that the ALP program is
two courses (and two hours) daily:

99/101 ALP classes are offered at 8:30 and 9:30, 9:30 and 10:30, 10:30 and 11:30, and 11:30 and 12:30.

The 96/101 ALP class is offered at 10:30 and 11:30.

What do former students have to say about ALP?

"This ALP class allowed me the chance to sit in a small class and to speak up! It’s hard to fade
into the background or be drowned out in a class with just nine or ten students. I was allowed to
ask my questions, know my classmates, and trust my instructor, and this gave me the confidence I
never had to better myself and motivate myself to get this stage of my life done."

"Not only does it help you get through English faster, but you learn so much more than you would
in 101 alone. When I first heard of ALP, I wasn’t going to do it, but I am so glad I did. I am
proud to say that I won’t avoid English now, and I know how to write a paper."

Legends

Legends is SCC's literary arts club,
sponsoring a variety of events that celebrate the college's creative
community. We offer literary readings, events promoting literacy for children, and poetry slams. Each spring
quarter we also publish the award-winning literary magazine Trade, featuring the original writing
and artwork of SCC students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Students interested in working on the magazine may
receive college elective credit each winter, in Literary Magazine Production (ENG 254) or
Advanced Literary Magazine Production (ENG 255), a hands-on class in producing a
professional magazine from start to finish. Additionally, SCC offers two courses in Creative Writing,
English 236 and 237, offered fall and spring quarters. These courses give students experience in writing
fiction, poetry, and drama - including tips on how to get published.

SCC Library and Media Center

The SCC Library is located in Building 16 and has friendly librarians who can help you gather just the right information for your research project and
save valuable time. The Library website, which includes
extensive information resources, is an important starting point for a successful research assignment.

Hagan Foundation Center for the Humanities

The Hagan Foundation Center for the Humanities, located on the second floor of
the Library in Building 16, schedules engaging speakers and activities throughout the school year. The Center's theme for 2009-2010 is
Community in Action. People from our college and local community will explore the topic from multiple angles –
the food we eat, the water we drink, the community organizations that enrich our lives, the literature we read, and the
poetry we create. Exploration comes in many forms including film screenings, author readings, panel discussions, and
musical events. English 101 student, Krista C., states, "I think the Hagan Foundation Center for the Humanities has a
great purpose at SCC. There are educational events always going on and the center is resourceful for everyone. It is a
sanctuary for English students." Visit the Hagan Foundation Center for the Humanities,
a place where people and ideas connect. The Center's list of
upcoming events is available online as well.

Quarterly Course Fair

Each quarter, English and Foreign Language teachers are given the task of writing a short course description for
each class they will be offering the following quarter. We started to do this when we discovered the range of classes
that were being offered by our amazing faculty. Whether teaching English 101 or English 102, each teacher approaches these
courses differently. For example, some teach with literature, some teach with media, others with popular culture,
and some even resort to traditional rhetoric. While all of these courses may contain research papers, essays and
other types of rhetorical methods, how they are delivered and what they cover allows us to reach our diverse
population of students.

Our other classes have the same breadth of content to deliver a fairly standard curriculum. In other words, we
are attempting to ensure that if you take an English 96 (Reading Improvement) class from two different teachers,
the books, topics and assignments may differ but their outcomes are that the student leaves the class with skills
and strategies to read academic reading.

We also use the course fair as an opportunity for our non-standard classes to be announced. For example, this is
a great opportunity to advertise the upcoming I.D.S. course or any of the other special courses offered the following
term. Moreover we offer an excellent range of literature classes, and once again, a course fair allows us the
opportunity to announce, then discuss these classes with interested students. With such an exciting line-up of
classes, we feel much better when we know we have offered students the opportunity to find out more about them.

The Common Text and the Portfolio Process

The common text is a piece of literature or non-fiction chosen each quarter by English faculty. All English 101 students
read the common text during the quarter, which provides students a shared classroom experience. Additionally, all English 101
students write an essay on a topic originating from the common text; this essay becomes one of the components included
in students' English 101 Writing Portfolios. The common text is often chosen to connect with big ideas or issues within
our culture or to supplement upcoming events within our campus or civic community.

English 101 Portfolio

The
English 101 Portfolio is a collection of your best written work from the class. The SCC English faculty have asked
you to create this collection because portfolios are increasingly becoming an important part of your future education
and employment requirements. Whether they are used as classroom assessment or for a job interview, portfolios have
become common in composition classrooms. By asking you to manage a project of this importance, we believe you will be
better prepared to represent yourself as a writer both now and in the future.

At a practical level, the writing you include in your English 101 Portfolio will demonstrate your ability to think critically,
to write essays with understandable development and logical organization, and to express yourself clearly. Additionally,
the evaluation of your portfolio will allow us as faculty to gauge the quality of the English 101 course as we refine the
classroom strategies that will help students become successful writers.

At the beginning of the quarter, you will receive further information from you instructor about the process, structure,
and content of the English 101 Portfolio. Should you have questions or concerns about the portfolio as the quarter progresses, do
not hesitate to talk to your instructor or to make an appointment with the department's Director of Composition.

English 101 Final Portfolio Assessment Criteria

Directions:
Please review the following criteria for your portfolio essays:

Your understanding of ESSAY STRUCTURE:

An effective Introduction with a Thesis Statement that
answers/relates to the prompt question/idea

Clear Topic Sentences that advance the thesis idea

Two or more Body Paragraphs that effectively connect to the thesis idea

Transitions which enhance these connections

A Conclusion that brings the essay to a logical closure

Your understanding of CRITICAL THINKING:

In-depth explanation or analysis that demonstrates an understanding of the prompt question/idea

Adequate details that support and develop the thesis idea completely and clearly, with reflective
and evaluative evidence from the text

Textual references (well-chosen quotations, paraphrases,
and citations) that are appropriately incorporated and documented in the MLA format

NOTE: No personal narratives or plot summaries
are acceptable as part of the development or critical thinking criteria!

What's the process?

As you prepare for the English 101 Portfolio, keep all the writing you do during the quarter, including prewriting, drafts,
graded work, and revisions. Your instructor will help you assemble your portfolio into a manila folder toward the
end of the quarter. Your instructor will collect the portfolios sometime during the last two weeks of the quarter,
after which your portfolio will be assessed by another instructor and returned to you.

How is my portfolio assessed?

Your English 101 Portfolio will be assessed holistically, meaning that another instructor will take a comprehensive look at
all the writing you have included in your portfolio. This faculty reader will provide you numeric feedback on each of
the major English 101 abilities areas, including essay structure and elements, critical thinking, and expression.

Almost all English 101 students create a successful portfolio. In rare instances, a portfolio may be considered incomplete
or unacceptable, and 0.4 will be deducted from the student's overall course grade.

What should I do with my portfolio at the end of the quarter?

Because more universities are moving to portfolio systems, the SCC English faculty recommend that you keep your
complete, assessed portfolio even after the quarter is over. Additionally, you may find that certain jobs require
writing skills; having samples available of your best writing can provide you with an edge during applications and
interviews.

Who should talk to if I have additional questions?

Please see your instructor or the department's Director of Composition if you have further questions about your
English 101 Portfolio.

All course offerings are subject to change. The college cannot guarantee class offerings,
designated times or specific instructors - as funding levels and student interest may affect whether or not an
offering is available.

In English 102, Advanced Composition, students further develop the critical reading, thinking, and
research skills acquired in 101 by writing research-based papers.

English 235 prepares students for writing used in the business and technical worlds.

SCC's writing program offers all learners flexibility and leading-edge technology. Students can fulfill
their degree requirements in the format best suited to their learning style: in a classroom, online,
and/or via hybrid classes supported by online technology. Our computerized composition classroom
capitalizes on students' diverse learning styles by providing the latest advances in technology-assisted
collaborative learning.

SCC's composition teachers are pleased to understand and meet the writing needs of this college's
diverse community.

SCC offers a wide range of literature courses to suit every student's need and interest. Our goal is to
make literature accessible and enjoyable by offering students the tools to fully appreciate what they are
studying. In addition, most of our literature courses are Writing Intensive courses ('W' courses), which
satisfy yet another requirement of an AA degree. We hope that students come away from our courses with
the beginning of a lifelong love affair with literature that will continue to enhance their lives.

Our 'W' or Writing Intensive Courses

There is no better medium for a 'W' course experience than literature. Novels, short stories, poetry, and drama are mines
loaded with content that thoughtful, reflective writing can access best. Because of this, most of our literature courses
are designated as 'W' courses to provide our students with this enriching experience.

Our 'D' or Diversity Courses

Our goal as a community of learners is to come to understand, appreciate, and celebrate the cultural and human diversity
that abounds in this country and throughout the world. One of the best ways to foster this appreciation is through the
study of literature. And so the SCC English/Foreign Languages Department offers a variety of diversity courses ('D'
courses) to develop a greater appreciation for the diversity that lies within our human heritage. These range from
cross-cultural literature courses to modern foreign language and American Sign Language courses.

One way to take your English courses is to participate in a Learning Community (LC). An LC is a class that combines
two or three academic courses into a single college class - a group of students and faculty members who meet together
to explore a class theme. Example LC classes include InSync and Read Right.

These classes contain ten or fifteen credits, and they are a great way to meet your AA degree and
transfer requirements. So, instead of signing up for a few unrelated five-credit classes with unconnected assignments
and learning outcomes, you sign up for an LC that links together two or three separate courses into a single class
environment. These ten- or fifteen-credit classes meet together with all of the instructors for two or three hours a
day, giving the students the chance to get to know their classmates and faculty members well. These supportive,
integrated learning environments create strong class communities - thus, the name "learning communities."

SCC's LC classes usually focus on a central theme (for example, the environment, heroes, ancient Greece, modernism,
racism, or food), and your instructors work to connect your assignments and readings around that theme. You get the
chance to study your class theme from a variety of academic disciplines, letting you see how knowledge is
interconnected. This helps you see how knowledge of one academic area (like sociology, biology, or composition) can
help you excel in other areas.

The English and Foreign Languages department participates regularly in SCC's LC courses, and you can often receive
English 101 or 102 credits by taking an LC. Additionally, some LC classes include literature courses that meet the
humanities requirements of your AA degree options.

InSync is a program designed for students entering college who are not as prepared as they need to be. It combines
two (or more) courses that will strengthen the skills necessary for success, such as Study Skills and Basic Writing.

The courses are usually combined into one class with two instructors in blocks of two hours and count as 10 credits
of the student's quarterly schedule. This combination, called Learning Communities, allows students to integrate what
they are learning in one course with the assignments of the other course and to see how all learning is collaborative,
that is, we all work together to understand the ideas being explored.

We have found that those students who complete an InSync class do better in their subsequent courses and tend to
complete the degrees they came to pursue. This is important because we began this program to combat the problems we
had seen when students entered college without the skills and knowledge they needed; those students tended to get
discouraged by the rigors of college and didn't know how to get the help and support available to make it through
that difficult first year.

We encourage all entering freshmen to look at the InSync offerings and decide whether this style of learning would benefit them.

Read Right (English 95) is a reading improvement class designed to help students become more confident with both
their reading and verbal skills. Each student works at an individual pace and on an individual level out of textbooks
provided in class. The reading lab is open during fall, winter, and spring quarters, Monday through Friday, 8:30
a.m.-1:30 p.m. Students are required to attend based on the amount of credits they sign up for (1-5 credits). A
Pass/Fail grade is dependent on completion of credit hours.